[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 215 (Tuesday, November 5, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56953-56954]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28433]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5647-6]


Announcement of Application Deadline for the Competition for the 
1997 National Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilots

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of Application Deadlines and Revised Guidelines.

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SUMMARY: The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will 
begin to accept proposals for the National Brownfields Assessment 
Pilots. The brownfields assessment pilots (each funded up to $200,000 
over two years) test assessment, models in the context of cleanup and 
redevelopment planning, direct special efforts toward removing 
regulatory barriers without sacrificing protectiveness, and facilitate 
coordinated environmental cleanup and redevelopment efforts at the 
federal, state, and local levels. EPA expects to select 25 additional 
National Brownfields Assessment Pilots by March 1997. The deadline for 
new applications for the 1997 assessment pilots is January 13, 1997. 
Previously unsuccessful applicants are advised that they must revise 
and resubmit their applications. Applications submitted before November 
1, 1996, will not be considered for the 1997 National Brownfields 
Assessment Pilots.
    The National Brownfields Assessment Pilots are administered on a 
competitive basis. To ensure a fair selection process, evaluation 
panels consisting of EPA Regional and Headquarters staff and other 
federal agency representatives will assess how well the proposals meet 
the selection criteria outlined in the newly revised application 
booklet The Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative: Application 
Guidelines for Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilots (October 
1996).

DATES: Applications will be accepted as of November 1, 1996 through 
January 13, 1997. All proposals must be postmarked or sent to EPA via 
registered or tracked mail by January 13, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Application booklets can be obtained by calling the 
Superfund Hotline at the following numbers: Washington, DC metro area 
at 703-412-9810; outside Washington, DC metro area at 1-800-424-9346; 
TDD for the Hearing Impaired at 1-800-553-7672. Booklets may also be 
obtained by writing to: U.S. EPA--Brownfields Application, Superfund 
Document Center (5201G), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460. Copies 
of the Booklet are available via the Internet: http://www.epa.gov/
brownfields/

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Superfund Hotline at 1-800-424-
9346 or contact Katherine Dawes, U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and 
Emergency Response, 202-260-8394.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As a part of the Environmental Protection 
Agency's (EPA) Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative, the 
Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilots are designed to empower 
States, communities, and other stakeholders in economic redevelopment 
to work together in a timely manner to prevent, assess, safely clean up 
and sustainably reuse brownfields. EPA has awarded cooperative 
agreements to States, cities, towns, counties and Tribes for 
demonstration pilots that test brownfields assessment models, direct 
special efforts toward removing regulatory barriers without sacrificing 
protectiveness, and facilitate coordinated public and private efforts 
at the Federal, State and local levels. To date, the Agency has funded 
76 Brownfields Assessment Pilots. Of those pilots, 39 are National 
Pilots selected under criteria developed by EPA Headquarters and 37 are 
Regional Pilots selected by EPA Regions under criteria developed by 
their offices.
    EPA's goal is to select a broad array of assessment pilots that 
will serve as models for other communities across the nation. EPA seeks 
to identify applications that demonstrate the integration or linking of 
brownfields assessment pilots with other federal, state, tribal, and 
local sustainable development, community revitalization, and pollution 
prevention programs. Special consideration will be given to Empowerment 
Zones and Enterprise Communities (EZ/ECs) and communities with 
populations of under 100,000. (EPA will conduct a special outreach 
effort to address the unique needs of Indian Tribes.) These pilots 
focus on EPA's primary mission--protecting human health and the 
environment. However, it is an essential piece of the nation's overall 
community revitalization efforts. EPA works closely with other federal 
agencies through the Interagency Working Group on Brownfields, and 
builds relationships with other stakeholders on the national and local 
levels to develop coordinated approaches for community revitalization.
    Funding for the brownfields assessment pilots is authorized under 
Section 104(d)(1) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (CERCLA or 
Superfund), 42 U.S.C. 9604(d)(1). States, cities, towns, counties, U.S. 
Territories, and Indian Tribes are eligible to apply. EPA welcomes and 
encourages applications from coalitions of such entities, but a single 
eligible entity must be identified as the legal recipient. Cooperative 
agreement funds will be awarded only to a state or to an officially 
recognized political subdivision of a state. For non-state applicants, 
please include statement verifying that entity has been authorized by 
the state to exercise governmental powers.
    Through a brownfields cooperative agreement, EPA authorizes an 
eligible state, political subdivision, Territory, or Indian Tribe to 
undertake activities that

[[Page 56954]]

EPA itself has the authority to pursue under CERCLA sections 104(a) or 
104(b). All restrictions on EPA's use of funding cited in CERCLA 
section 104 also apply to brownfields assessment pilot cooperative 
agreement recipients.
    The proposal evaluation panels will review the proposals carefully 
and assess each response based on how well it addresses the selection 
criteria, briefly outlined below:

1. Problem Statement and Needs Assessment (4 points out of 20)
    --Effect of Brownfields on your Community or Communities
    --Value Added by Federal Support
2. Community-Based Planning and Involvement (6 points out of 20)
    --Existing Local Commitment
    --Community Involvement Plan
    --Environmental Justice Plan
3. Implementation Planning (6 points out of 20)
    --Appropriate Authority and Government Support
    --Environmental Site Assessment Plan
    --Proposed Cleanup Funding Mechanisms
    --Flow of Ownership Plan
4. Long-Term Benefits and Sustainability (4 points out of 20)
    --National Replicability
    --Measures of Success

    Dated: October 30, 1996.
Linda Garczynski,
Director, Outreach and Special Projects Staff, Office of Solid Waste 
and Emergency Response.
[FR Doc. 96-28433 Filed 11-4-96; 8:45 am]
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